All City departments will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2016 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Offices in City Hall will also be closed on Friday, November 25, 2016.

PLEASE NOTE: As a result of offices in City Hall being closed on Thursday and Friday, the weekly early closure day for the City Hall building will be observed on Wednesday, November 23. Therefore, most offices in City Hall will be observing their Friday business hours on Wednesday, November 23, with notable early closures being the Municipal Court and Utility Billing offices closing at 2:00 p.m.

The Sanitation and Streets Department will not collect trash, recycling, yard waste or leaves on Thursday, November 24, 2016. Refuse collection will resume on Friday, November 25, with crews collecting both Thursday and Friday’s refuse. Residents who normally have Thursday sanitation service are asked to have their refuse at curbside by 7:00 a.m. on Friday. Leaf collection will also resume on Friday. Residents may rake leaves to the tree lawn area to be vacuumed; place the leaves in biodegradable paper bags for City pickup; or take biodegradable paper bagged leaves to the free drop off site at 560 Barks Rd. W. (Park Enterprise Construction). There is no charge for the leaf drop off; however, proof of City residency may be required.

Marion Area Transit will be closed and have no bus service available on Thursday, November 24 or Friday, November 25. Normal bus service will resume on Monday, November 28, 2016.

Marion Senior Center will be closed on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25. The Senior Center will re-open for regular business on Monday, November 28, 2016.

Necessary services including fire, police, and airport will operate as usual.

The City of Marion will be performing smoke testing of the sanitary sewers between Church St. and Bellefontaine Ave. from the intersection of Columbia St. and State St. to the intersection of Columbia St. and Blaine Ave. on Wednesday, November 16 and Thursday, November 17 from 9:00 am through 5:00 pm each day.

Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing that offices in City Hall will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2016 in observance of Veteran’s Day. Due to City Hall being closed on Friday, most offices will be observing weekly early closure hours on Thursday, November 10.

The following city departments will operate as noted:

Sanitation crews will collect garbage, recycling and yard waste on November 11. Customers normally having refuse collected on Friday are requested to have their collections at curbside by 7:00 am.

The Marion Senior Center will be open normal operating hours on November 11. On this day, the Center will be honoring and providing a complimentary lunch for all local Veterans. The luncheon which is being hosted at the Marion Senior Center, 2375 Harding Highway E., and will be served at noon. In addition to the complimentary lunch, for all veterans, a special memento of the occasion will be provided. Dinner tickets are $3 for non-veterans. The public is welcome! Contact the Center at (740) 387-6100 for more information or to RSVP.

Marion Area Transit will be open for operation on November 11.

Essential services including fire, police, and airport will operate as usual.

The Mayor would also like to remind residents that yard waste and fall leaf pick-up will continue through Friday, December 9, 2016. The options available for disposal of leaves are as follows:

1) Leaves may be raked to the tree lawn area to be vacuumed (Residents are reminded that leaves are not to be raked into the street);

2) Leaves may be placed in biodegradable paper bags (limit 3 per week) for City sanitation workers to pick up; or

3) Leaves may be taken to the free drop off location at 560 Barks Rd. W. in biodegradable paper-bags. Proof of City residency may be required.

Trick-or-Treat for the City of Marion will be held from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Monday, October 31.

In 1999, Marion City Council passed legislation which set "Trick-or-Treat" night within the City of Marion for October 31 of each year between the hours of 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm, unless October 31 falls on a Sunday. If October 31 falls on a Sunday, "Trick-or-Treat" night will be observed on the preceding Saturday. As a result of the passage of this Ordinance, the date for Trick-or-Treat cannot be moved unless legislation is presented before full City Council.

Halloween Safety Tips:

Trick-or-Treat in a group or with an adult.

Accept treats only in doorways. Never go into a house.

Visit homes that have the porch light on.

Carry a flashlight.

Walk, don't run, and stay on sidewalks.

Look both ways before crossing streets and only cross the street at corners.

Wear reflective clothing.

Be sure your costume is not too long ... you don't want to trip or fall.

Shoes should fit comfortably (even if they don't match your costume).

Carry only flexible swords, knives, and props.

Consider using "face paint" instead of a mask. If you wear a mask, be sure you can see out of it clearly.

Be sure your parents always know where you are going to trick-or-treat and stay in familiary neighborhoods.

Do not ride a bicycle. Your costume might get tangled in the wheels.

Keep away from candles and open fires.

Be cautious of animals.

Let parents check your treats before you eat them.

Never eat unwrapped candy, opened candy, or fruit given to you on Halloween.

Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing that leaf collection for city residents will begin Monday, October 17 and continue through Friday, December 9, 2016. The three options for disposal of leaves by city residents are:

1.

Place leaves in the tree lawn area to be vacuumed.

A vacuum-type collector will collect leaves raked to the tree lawn area, with each street having leaves collected during the leaf pick-up season.

As a note, it is requested that residents NOT rake leaves into the streets so water can drain properly into the city’s storm sewer system and therefore, not cause blockage for catch basins and drains.

2.

Place leaves in biodegradable paper bags for pick up, which will follow yard waste pick-up limits of 3 bags per week.

Residents wishing to bag leaves may do so by placing them in clearly marked biodegradable paper bags sold at local retail stores. The filled bags should be placed at curbside for pick-up. The City will continue to follow its yard waste limits of collecting 3 bags and 3 bundles per residence per week.

3.

Take biodegradable paper bagged leaves to 560 Barks Rd. W.

Park Enterprise Construction located at 560 Barks Rd. W. is the location of the City’s free drop off site. This location will be open to city residents free of charge. Residents may call 740-223-7275 for Park Enterprise hours of operation. Proof of city residency may be required. PLEASE NOTE: If non-biodegradable bags are used, leaves must be emptied from the bag at site.

For additional information, contact the Sanitation/Streets Department at 740-382-1479.